Adrián Suar criticized the defunding of culture: “We are on our way to being Venezuela”

Suar expressed his concern about the future of culture in Argentina: “There is a lot of talk about wanting to go out into the world, about not being left behind, and yet we are on our way to being Venezuela”he commented.

The producer and actor considered that “culture should not be defunded” but, as a government, should be considered “as an objective to improve it”.

The criticism from a renowned Argentine actor arises after the Government launched a plan to defund the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA).

The Government advances with cuts to culture and the scrapping of the INCAA

According to sources from the Executive Branch, the INCAA is considered an “oversized organization”, which is why they have made the decision to implement austerity measures such as the review of the temporary and permanent staff of employees, the call for voluntary retirements and early retirements, the restriction of air travel, reduction of avoidable expenses and the elimination of cell phone fleets.

The INCAA, which depends on the Ministry of Culture led by Leonardo Cifelli, has a budget of $10,778,658,800 in 2023, with allocations coming from current income. Besides, It has 645 employees, of which 500 are permanent and 145 are temporary.distributed in various technical and administrative roles.

The Institute finances its activities through the Film Development Fundwhich is nourished by taxes on culture, such as 10% on the price of tickets for film shows throughout the country and 10% on the sale or rental price of recorded videograms. Also receives a percentage of the gross billing for advertising in audiovisual communication services.

Given the critical situation that the INCAA, The Ministry of Human Capital, to which the Ministry of Culture depends, issued a statement justifying the decision to defund a large part of film activity. “Our commitment to a 0% deficit is non-negotiable. The years in which film festivals were financed with the hunger of thousands of children are over.“they remarked from the portfolio directed by Sandra Pettovello.

In the document they argued that “in compliance with the mandate to audit and cut entrusted by the President Milei”, from the Secretary of Culture began a “process of reordering the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA)”.

According to them, this organization was in “a delicate economic situation, with a $4 million deficitpart financed by the National Treasure and the other postponed and paid by the current administration.” On the other hand, They stated that “it is false that INCAA is self-financing.”